Choose the Right Car for the Trip

With that said, there’s also a variety of long term car rental options. Each can provide a different experience for every type of road trip.

When trying to find the best rental car, travelers need to consider things like:

The number of travelers

Whether children or pets will be joining

Luggage amount

Location (cities or somewhere with mountains)

Time of year (summer or winter)

Distance (a few hundred miles or several thousand)

Duration of the trip

It’s necessary for travelers to understand the nature of their upcoming road trip. Once they do, they can determine their needs, like car size, gas mileage, and things like snow tires.

Rent According to Personal Budget

Part of budgeting for an upcoming road trip is planning. It’s especially important for anybody looking for a long term car rental.

Budget travelers can rent cars and still save money. One way they can is to rent and drop off a rental car in the same location. Doing so helps them avoid drop-off fees, which can save them at least a couple hundred dollars.

Budget travelers can also save money by driving non-luxury vehicles. So long as they get from point A to point B, there’s no need to drive a fancy sports car.

Yet, a traveler with the flexibility to splurge can rent and drive a car they’ve always wanted to drive!

But it doesn’t matter if someone is renting a 2007 Honda or a 2017 Mercedes. There’s still rental fees and extra costs to consider, such as:

Gas

Lodging

Loss damage waiver fees

Supplementary loss protection

Personal accident insurance

Sales tax

Travelers should check their existing car insurance policies. They may be able to apply some of their liability or damage coverage.

Consider Peak Travel Seasons

Car rental prices vary throughout the year. Summer is always a peak travel season, as well as holidays.

During peak travel seasons, car rental prices are higher. Prices can also spike when special events are occurring in a particular location.

For example, companies tend to increase their rates during local events or celebrations.

During the off-season like winter, car rental prices tend to be lower. Prices can also be lower during times of year when people travel less.